• Black leg of seedlings

  stripping of the skin from the root cortex with a finger nail. Life cycle and appearance of Black leg of seedlings Pythium belongs to the Oomycetes, a separate [...] and very little of the root system survives. On the border between air and soil or substrate the plant turns brown. A typical symptom of a Pythium infection [...] conditions, especially dehydration. Germination of the oospores is stimulated by exudates from roots of a susceptible host nearby. The oospores germinate and form

• Black rot of carrots

  appearance of Black rot of carrots Black rot of carrots ( Alternaria radicina ) is a seed-transferred carrot disease. The seeds are the main source of primary [...] infection of the leaves. Survival can be several years, in the case of black rot of carrots ( Alternaria radicina ) up to 8 years. Damage symptoms Black rot [...] source of infection. Especially wheat and barley reduce the number of surviving conidia in the soil. Use resistant cultivars against black rot of carrots

• Black vine weevil

  Life cycle and appearance of Black vine weevil The life cycle of the black vine weevil consists of an egg, 6 or 7 larval instars, a pupal instar and the adult [...] - 10 mm long. Outdoors there is a single generation each year. A population of black vine weevils consists entirely of females and reproduction is by [...] within the stems of the plants. Both adult beetles and larvae are polyphagous and feed on a large number of plant species. High populations of larvae can destroy

• Black bean aphid

  Life cycle and appearance of Black bean aphid Aphids have a complex life cycle, with both winged and wingless forms of adults and a great variety in colour [...] General The black bean aphid, Aphis fabae , is widespread in temperate regions, where it is a serious economic pest of beans. It is highly polyphagous [...] , and attacks a wide range of other crops. Damage symptoms Economic damage by black bean aphid is mainly due to direct feeding damage. Indirect damage

• Predatory mite pioneers: A journey of biocontrol innovations

  September 30, 2024

  Ulti-Mite is a key component of a pest management system, where multiple predators work together to control this chemical-resistant pest.” Staying ahead of the [...] vibrant world of horticulture, Koppert stands out for its commitment to innovation. By combining a deep respect for nature and understanding of growers’ challenges [...] Almería, Spain, forced a shift from conventional to biological crop protection methods. “Growers urgently needed a solution to a difficult-to-control thrips

• Limonica: breakthrough in large-scale production of a complex predatory mite

  August 5, 2025

  biological crop protection is central to Koppert. A striking example of this is the successful upscaling of Amblydromalus limonicus , better known under the [...] various insect pests, but is considered one of the most difficult species to produce. Thanks to a combination of in-depth knowledge, technical breakthroughs [...] submitted a new project to R&D. Together with production, they reviewed the entire process, from the type and quantity of feed to the composition of the rearing

• A legacy of sustainability: Stolk Brothers and Koppert’s shared vision

  February 17, 2025

  both a necessity and a calling. “In the early 90s, my father and uncle began working with Koppert, driven by firsthand experience of the impact of chemical [...] .” Predatory mites: the backbone of a sustainable strategy For Stolk Brothers, predatory mites form the foundation of their biological crop protection [...] how biological control works best. Now, we take a proactive approach, maintaining a strong population of predatory mites throughout the entire crop cycle

• Towards a chemical-free future in agriculture: The vision of grower Koen

  decided to find a balance between both approaches. This way of working allows him to gain experience in using biological crop protection . As a result, he acquires [...] path to the future. "You grow into it a bit," notes Koen. With the growing availability of knowledge and the number of biological crop protection products [...] acquires a lot of knowledge and is prepared to fully transition to biological crop protection when the government decides that certain traditional methods

• Root rot of carrot

  starts with small black spots over the entire surface of the carrot. These spots gradually change into larger dark brown to black lesions of various shapes [...] only host plant of the fungus. How to prevent root rot of carrot Studies have shown that 3several key factors influencing the occurrence of blemishes and [...] Additionally a strong foliage and uniform stand allow better functioning of mechanical harvesters, leading to less mechanical damage of the carrots.

• Downy mildew of Cucurbits

  On the underside of the leave fluffy growth appears which is first white and later turns grey-brown. This is actually the sporulation of the pathogens extruding [...] leaves and after a while new spore-bearing structures are protruding from the stomata. Because there are more stomata on the underside of the leaf, this [...] prevent Downey mildew Choose resistant cultivars Use a wide crop rotation with non-host crops Prevent a humid microclimate. Achieve this by lowering crop